West African nations have joined forces to combat micronutrient deficiencies among children, infants and expectant mothers in the region.
This collaboration was highlighted by chairman of the National Fortification Alliance, Mr. Fred Chiazor during a Workshop of the Regional Fortification Alliance held on Tuesday in Abuja.
The workshop, as reported by the media, included representatives from the National Alliance for Food Fortification in ECOWAS countries and technical and financial partners such as the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
Chiazor emphasised the necessity for countries to form alliances to ensure that processed, produced, and consumed food is fortified with essential nutrients. He mentioned that around 15 countries are working towards forming a regional fortification alliance. The first meeting to consider this idea was held in Cotonou, Benin Republic.
“We are now coming together to discuss how we can form this alliance,” Chiazor stated. “The whole essence is to address micronutrient deficiencies in these countries to benefit children, infants, young infants and expectant mothers. We aim to address these issues holistically and collaboratively by sharing experiences from different countries.”
On the methods to combat micronutrient deficiencies, Chiazor explained, “First of all, we need to identify the vehicles we will use. For example, in Nigeria, we use wheat flour, sugar, vegetable oil, and salt. Other countries might use different vehicles for fortification. We need to share our statistics and determine the best approach for each country.”
Discussing the affordability of fortified foods, Chiazor highlighted efforts made in Nigeria. “In Nigeria, under the National Food Alliance, we approached the Nigerian Customs Services (NCS). Previously, there was a 20 per cent tariff on vitamin premixes, which was transferred to producers and then to consumers. The NCS reduced this tariff to 5 per cent, making fortified foods more affordable.”
Chiazor noted that these efforts have ensured that the cost of fortified products remains low, allowing consumers to benefit from affordable, high-quality, nutrient-rich foods. “The National Fortification Alliance (NFA) is working tirelessly to ensure that consumers receive the necessary vitamins and minerals in their diets without significant cost increases,” he said.
Nigeria has made significant progress in combating micronutrient deficiencies, thanks to the concerted efforts of all stakeholders involved in fortification initiatives. Mandatory food fortification of selected vehicles—wheat flour, maize flour, sugar and vegetable oil—began in 2002 to address micronutrient deficiencies.
Chiazor explained, “The NFA was established in 2004 under the chairmanship of the National Planning Commission (now the Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning) to mobilise relevant stakeholders for effective implementation of the food fortification program in Nigeria.” He added that NFA’s achievements include a robust regulatory framework, successful advocacy for tariff reductions and data-driven approaches.
Project director for the USAID Advancing Food Fortification Opportunities to Reinforce Diets (AFFORD) programme, Mr. Brent Wibberley commended Nigeria’s efforts in food fortification. He stressed the importance of maintaining compliance with food fortification standards, especially for small businesses. “Progress in food fortification in West Africa, particularly in Nigeria, has been significant. However, maintaining compliance levels with the standards, especially for smaller businesses, remains a challenge,” Wibberley noted.
Regional manager at the Programme for Appropriate Technology in Health (PATH), Mr. Kumar Saurabh emphasised the importance of affordability in addressing micronutrient deficiencies. “Ideally, people should eat a variety of food groups daily, but affordability is a major issue. Many do not have the means to purchase expensive foods, fruits, and vegetables,” Saurabh said. To address these problems, PATH has developed food fortification strategies, linking high micronutrient deficiency prevalence with solutions to combat hidden hunger.
This regional collaboration signifies a unified approach to tackling micronutrient deficiencies, ensuring that vulnerable populations receive the necessary nutrients for healthy growth and development. By sharing experiences, strategies and resources, West African countries aim to create a sustainable and impactful solution to improve public health across the region.
